A Greenhorn’s Guide to Cowboy Boots

Uncover Cowboy Boot Couture

Cowboy boots have been around since the end of the Civil War in the middle of the 1800s. When men started driving cattle across the country, they discovered the boots they wore weren’t as efficient for the demands of long days of riding rough terrain. The soles were too flat, the heels slipped through the stirrups and the upper part of the boot didn’t protect the cowboys’ legs from thorny bushes, rattlesnakes, barbed wire and many other hazards of the trail. The American West was a rough and unforgiving country, and the cowboys needed footgear to meet that challenge.

Legend has it that around 1870, a cowboy took his boots to a cobbler and told him he wanted a boot with a pointed toe, a taller shaft to cover more of the lower leg and a thicker heel that wouldn’t slip through the stirrup. He needed thicker leather that was tough enough to withstand rocks and branches. The shoemaker came up with the perfect design and the cowboy boot was born.

Early day cowboy boots were purely functional; they were nothing like the fancy boots we see today. Until 1880, the only way you could get a pair of cowboy boots was to have them custom made. Leather and stitching were either brown or black, and the stitching on the shaft served only to keep the boots from sagging from use. Before long, the cowboy boot became a fashion statement, with different leathers used in construction and the stitching evolved into more intricate patterns as years wore on. Today, cowboy boots are still used for work on the range, but there are many that are expensive works of art as well.

Construction

Whether the cowboy boots are custom made or manufactured by a large company, each step in the process is highly specialized. The skins for the boot first need to be cut, treated and then partially assembled before the stitching is added to the shaft. Another person or department might be responsible for adding and shaping the heel, and then another department for the final buffing and polishing.

Form or Function?

The first thing to decide is how you want to use your cowboy boots. Women’s cowboy boots come in as many varieties as men's. Some are strictly for a night out on the town, while others are meant to take a beating on the range or ranch. For those women who love their cowboy boots, it’s not unusual to have two pairs – one for working and one for playing.

* WorkBoots

If you’re going to be mucking out the barn or riding muddy trails day after day, the best type of cowboy boot would be one made of cowhide. Cowhide is extremely durable and allows your foot to breathe. This type of leather is easier to maintain and doesn’t require any special care other than treating the leather with oil from time to time. If you’re the type of woman who still has to look fashionable on the range, women’s cowboy boots made of cowhide are also printed with patterns to resemble more exotic leathers. You can have a good-looking and functional boot that will last you for years.

* Play Cowboy Boots Here’s where the fun starts. The varieties of exotic leathers for women’s cowboy boots are practically endless and more are being added every day. Keep in mind that some animals are on the endangered species list, or you could end up in trouble for buying cowboy boots made from an endangered species. Chances are if someone is trying to sell leather from an endangered species, he didn’t get the leather legally.

The most popular exotic cowboy boots are made of ostrich skin. Ostriches are the cows of the bird world. The bumpy or smooth leather is as durable as cowhide and allows your foot to breath nicely. Snakeskin is another popular choice. The patterns of the scales make for some exquisite cowboy boots, but the leather requires more care to keep from drying out.

Lizard skin is next. For a cowboy boot that shines, alligator lizard is the way to go. The alligator lizard isn’t the same as an actual alligator. Alligator lizards are found all over the world, with eight of the 67 species found in North America ranging from southern Canada down to Central America. The lizard was named for its miniaturized likeness to the alligator. What are the benefits of alligator lizard versus genuine alligator? Price and maintenance. Genuine alligator skin cowboy boots are very expensive and require as much maintenance as snakeskin to keep from drying and cracking.

If you want soft and supple, try a pair of eel skin cowboy boots. These boots are strong, lightweight, smooth as silk and sleek as a racehorse. Other types of skins are kangaroo, goatskin, anteater, shark, bison, and elk, just to name a few.

How to Buy Cowboy Boots

Once you’ve determined whether your cowboy boots will be for work or play, and how much your budget can handle, the next step is finding a place to buy your boots. Shelpers is one of the biggest and oldest distributors of men and women’s cowboy boots. You can find Shelpers online or if you live near one of their stores, stop in for a personal visit. While buying online is convenient, it is always better to go to an actual store to try boots on. Be sure to wear the type of socks or stockings you will be wearing with the boots to get the best fit. Thick socks will require a larger size and stockings will make the boot looser. Having a salesperson available is helpful too; you can ask questions and get the perfect fit.

Caring For Your Cowboy Boots

Dust and dirt are your boots’ worst enemies. Allowing the dust to remain on your boots when you’re done wearing them is the fastest way to ruin them. The dust will get into the creases and act like sandpaper, wearing down the leather and eventually causing cracking and splitting. If you’ve been out in the mud, remove any loose dirt and then give the boots a good brushing. Follow that with a good leather conditioner like neetsfoot oil. Apply it liberally and let the oil soak in over night. Leather also fades, but a good boot cream will fix that. Choose a color a shade or two darker than the boot if the boot is already faded and you’ll have them looking like new in no time.

As previously mentioned, reptile skin requires a little more care. The skin isn’t as absorbent as cowhide or other porous leathers and the conditioners should be added in thin layers one at a time, first against the scales and then following the direction of the scales. Condition your snakeskin cowboy boots often and never allow them to dry out.

Saddle soap can be used too, but don’t allow it to dry on the leather, wipe it off wet and be sure to get it all off. Mink oil will water proof your boots, but it will also seal off the pores and eventually cause cracking. Avoid using it. Wax will also dry out your cowboy boots and should be applied only after using a conditioning cream.

With proper care, your cowboy boots should last for years, giving you comfort and durability every step of the way. With so many options available, it’s easy to have a cowboy boot for any occasion.

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